Safety attachment for aeroplanes



. Feb 15.

I H. M. cosEY SAFETY ATTACHMENT FOR AEROPLANES Filed July 27, 1925 M m m, H

Hs/ver M. Cour ting aslow and easy descent of the aeroplane Patented Feb. '15, 1927. d

HENRY M cosngrg orr nub. Liner; ixrren rennmw p ...stem;gaemeaemiees merrier-ESQ v Application' filed July 27,1925. Sefiai'iff 4 6,243.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a safety" attachment for 6 to the earth from an elevated position.

Another object of the invention is the provision offa small umbrella which may beeasily and quickly opened by the operator, and, when opened, will, on account. of the air currents caught thereby, raise a large F parachute out of a housing to serve as a retarding agent in preventing toov rapid descent of the aeroplane.

- Other objects reside in the novel structure and arrangement of the Various parts.

The invention will be best understood by reference to. the drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which- .Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention, shown applied to an aeroplane shown in fragment. a p Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substan tially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the invention in operative position,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view showing parts broken away and parts in section of the umbrella, used with the invention. As shown :in the drawings, the invention is adapted for userwith, an aeroplane having a body 7 and any desirable landing gearing 8. Mounted on'the body 7 is a superstructure 9. Mounted on thissuperstructure 9 is a housing or receptacle 10, in which is adapted to be positioned a parachute 11, of suflicient sizeto permit thefgradual fallinglof the aeroplane with which used. The guy ropes 12 which are attached to the parachute 11 are securely fastened at their ends'to the upper portion of the housing 10. Secured r to the parachute'll adjacent its center and projecting therethrough is an umbrella handle 13. In the form shown in the drawings, the handle 13 is formed tubular to provide the] chamber 14, in which is slidably, positioned a plug 15 to which the ends of the umbrella braces 16 are attached. Mounted on the plug is a catch 17 which co-operates with the latch member 18 for 'normally're taining the umbrella 20 in closed position.

' Whenthe umbrella is in'closed position, the

spring 23 s 1 5191" tension so that when the and durable structure.

rod 19, which-extends downwardly into a position to beeasily accessible to thedriver of the aeroplane, is pulled downwardly the latch 18 will rock-to disengage the catch 17,

umbrella slightly. The air currents rushlng into the umbrella will then serve to open it to its fullest-extent. If desired, the spring 21 may be dispensed, with, as'the'air currents rushing into the umbrella are believed sufficient to open the umbrella under ordinary conditions. As the umbrella is opened 7 to. recelve the am currents 1n large measure,

sufiicient resistance is afforded for raising I thus permitting the spring 21 to open the the parachute 11 out of the housing 10 so,

that the air will have an opportunity to then distend the parachute and. permit it to function and retard too rapid descent of the aeroplane. p 7

While I am familiar with 'dilferent devices in which a parachute is used to retard the descent of an aeroplane. I believe that the employment of an umbrella for the purpose ,of raising the parachute to operative position is novel, and it is this which forms an important feature of the present invention. The position of mounting the receptacle orhousing 10is also important,'.inasmuch as the strain to which the aeroplane is subject'- ed when its descent is retarded will be on,-

the fuselage and wings or superstructure 9,

- which isthe'most acceptable place for de livering this strain on account of its rigid While I have illustrated andde'scribed the preferred form of construction,"I do not;

wish to limit myself ,to'the'precise details of structure shown in'the drawings, but desire to avail myselfwof such variations'andmodifications as come within the scope of the appended'c'laim. I I

Having thus described'my invention,whatf i I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A safety device for aeroplanesadaptedfor use with an aeroplane having a superstruc 'ture mounted thereon, comprisinga receptacle mounted on the upper surface of said superstructure; a parachute normally folded in said receptacle, the ropesof said parachute being attached to said receptacle adjacent the upper edge thereof; an umbrella mounted on said parachute and havtacle and said superstructur said handle -ing' a handle projected through said recep- I Q. I i 1,617,325

spring mounted in said hollow-pbrtion and adapted When open for engaging; air .6111

under tension when saidumbrella is closed; Tents-for raising-said parachute out'of said 7 means for retaining said spring un'der ten-- receptacle for permitting the functioning of 1 sion and said ,7 umbrella insclosed. position; same; Y

said means being releasable at'will for per- In testimony whereof, I have signed the v mitting the opening 0i said umbrella'ini'efoi'egoin'g specification. i sponse to saidspring, said umbrella being H p M. CO SEY. 

